Two stories. Both, like most historical stories, involving a certain amount of speculation and interpretation.

First the story of Anna Wickham. One can't know this story very clearly, as it would be the story of her private marital and emotional difficulties. Her husband, she said later in her autobiography, did not approve of her writing poetry. She spent some time in a mental hospital, and was discreetly referred to as an "eccentric". But of course almost every poet has been so spoken of, at one time or another.

The other story behind the post is the story or stories about Scapa Flow, in the Orkney Islands, one of the great natural harbours and anchorages in the world.

The British fleet was based there during the two great World Wars of the last century.

At the end of the first War, the German fleet was interned and sunk there. There are consequently a great deal of German naval pottery shards that have been fished up.

But the bit of Royal Navy pottery pictured in this post probably has a different history. My guess is that it is of World War I vintage and was in use from that time until 1939. My speculation is that the mug of which we see a remnant was in use on the HMS Royal Oak. On 14 October 1939 the German submarine U-47 penetrated Scapa Flow and sank the Royal Oak. 833 men were lost. I am guessing some of them may have drunk from this ceramic mug.

Thanks for this, quite amazing! Both AW and Scapa Flow new(s) to me. That little pot is a treasure, so restrained and deep, the line of the flow on horizon between sea and sky (beneath which a whole German fleet still lies . . . . (!)

A treasure of a sort, yes, for thinking upon as well as seeing: those chance inscriptions of accidental sub-marine "history" not yet effacing the visible symbol of a "cause" behind the use of the utensil: I found that made for interesting reflection.

(Also I surrender my spirit all too readily to certain shades of violet and blue.)

And as to that wide horizonal gateway toward Norway, in the lower image, with all those bones of men and ships below, an opening to further fathomings, indeed...